NCIC
Issue 3
March 2013
“Selfishness is a behaviour which encourages acquisition of just
about anything and an unwillingness to give or share with others.”
He maintained his membership of the Executive of the
NCIMD and later, the NCIC, amounting to forty-three (43)
years.
Mr. Ramlakhansingh remembers the days prior to 1991
when the NCIC had no home to call its own. Meetings
were often held at the residences and offices of members
in various parts of Trinidad. Schools and other public halls
were also used. He recalls it being a challenge to attend
meetings because of the continuous change of venues. It is
therefore no surprise that he considers the obtaining of
fifteen acres of land from the Government of Trinidad
and Tobago in 1991 and the recent acquisition of another fifteen acres, to be among the NCIC’s major accomplishments. However, he views the annual ‘Divali Nagar’,
which started in 1986 and continues to the present time,
to be NCIC's greatest achievement. He is also especially
proud of NCIC being honoured with one of India's highest
awards a few years ago by the President of India Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (Overseas Indian Award).
Mr. Ramlakhansingh’s community endeavours have not
been restricted to the NCIC. He is currently a member of
the Radio 103FM Hall of Fame Committee, the Queen’s
Hall Board, as well as the Liquor Licensing Committee of
the Point Fortin/La Brea/Cedros Magisterial District.
For his invaluable contribution to the field of Indian culture, Mr. Ramlakhansingh has been honoured with awards
from the NCIC, the Debe/Penal Regional Corporation, the
103FM Radio Hall of Pioneers Committee and the Pelican
Sports Club of Penal. He has also received an award
from the Penal branch of Republic Bank for introducing
Tassa Taal to the Bank as a community project in 1986.
Mr. Ramlakhansingh lists his mother Gulabiya Ramlakhansingh as having had the greatest influence on his
life. However, he made special mention of two Primary
school-teachers, namely Mr. Harry Seepersad and Mrs.
Margret Jagessar, as well as Mr. Kenrick Seepersad
(lecturer at the Naparima Teacher's Training College) as
having had significant influences on his personal life. He
also credits Dr. Hans Hanoomansingh (former President of
the NCIC), Dr. Deokinanan Sharma (current President of
the NCIC) and Mr. Narsaloo Ramaya (Indian violinist, cofounder and former leader of the Naya Zamana Orchestra and co-founder and leader of the Triveni Orchestra)
as being his three (3) most important Indian cultural rolemodels.
In his spare time, Mr. Ramlakhansingh’s enjoys cricket, volley ball, table tennis, reading, travelling, listening to Indian music and a good ‘lime’ with close friends. A typical
day would be spent exercising, gardening, reading, doing household chores and watching television.
Despite his humble and affable nature, Mr. Ramlakhansingh was scathing in his criticism of what he considers to be the lack of unity amongst Indo-Trinidadian artistes, activists and pro